Files charged against CPAC Hungary organizer for posting nazi symbol

CPAC Hungary organizer charged over post featuring swastika

The Hungarian prosecutor’s office has filed charges against Zoltán Koskovics, at the Center for Fundamental Rights, over his use of a nazi symbol, according to former MP Ákos Hadházy. Last June Koskovics posted an image of a rainbow flag with a swastika on X during the Budapest Pride. The Center for Fundamental Rights, which is linked to Fidesz, describes its work as focused on "preserving national identity, sovereignty and Christian traditions," and has received substantial public funding under Viktor Orbán’s government.

Police initially declined to investigate, arguing that the deleted post made it impossible to establish how widely it had been seen. The prosecutor’s office overturned that decision, finding that information about the post’s reach and engagement could be established through a simple online search. Hadházy said the investigation was reopened and charges were subsequently filed against Koskovics, who faces a maximum penalty of 90 days’ imprisonment or a fine.

Hungary elects former supreme court chief András Baka as president

András Baka has been elected president of Hungary, winning 140 of the 146 votes cast in parliament, with six votes against and no abstentions. The former head of the Supreme Court was nominated by the ruling Tisza party after the term of Tamás Sulyok, who had been appointed under Fidesz, was ended prematurely by the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law in July. The presidency includes representing Hungary internationally, signing legislation and, in some cases, returning laws to parliament or referring them to the Constitutional Court.

Baka is best known for having been unlawfully removed as head of the Supreme Court after criticising the Orbán government’s plans to reform the judiciary. A specialist in human and minority rights, he served as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights between 1991 and 2008. Fidesz MPs did not take part in the vote, arguing that Sulyok’s removal was illegitimate, while Baka is due to take office on 19 August. Until then, Ágnes Forsthoffer will continue to perform the duties of president.

Polish ex-minister fled to Russian-occupied Transnistria

According to Polish media reports, Marcin Romanowski, a PiS member of parliament and former deputy minister of justice, is reportedly in Transnistria, a region of Moldova under Russian occupation. Citing RMF FM radio, Polish newspapers suggest that Romanowski is in Tiraspol, the region’s capital.

Romanowski had been granted political asylum in Hungary, but fled after the elections. However, the Warsaw District Court has now received an official petition from him, in which he listed an address in Tiraspol, Transnistria, allowing Polish authorities to immediately identify his whereabouts. The politician turned to the court because, he requested a guarantee that, by suspending the arrest warrant issued against him, he would be able to defend himself while remaining free in the Polish proceedings. By fleeing to a territory that is Russian control, Polish and international law enforcement agencies are unable to take action against him or secure his extradition.